USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 55
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Mr. Franks is justly proud of his family history and likes to tell of his ancestors, the Franks family being of mixed German and French blood, the earliest members of which came to America long before the Revolution- ary war. Michael Franks, grandfather of L. K., died in Pennsylvania. He was the father of sixteen children. L. K. Franks' maternal grandfather, Henry Franks, took part in the war of 1812, was captured by the Indians at Sandusky, Ohio, and compelled to run the gantlet, but fortunately es- caped. From such hardy ancestry it is no wonder that the subject is a man of action and force of character.
In politics Mr. Franks is a Democrat and has always been prominent in public affairs. He has been rewarded for his valuable services to his party by being elected township clerk. township treasurer and deputy county treasurer, in all of which he very faithfully represented his constituents. He
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and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Franks is a public-spirited man, always interested in whatever tends to promote the general good, and he is known to be a man of the highest integrity of purpose.
NATHAN R. ZIMMERMAN.
One of the leading business men of Doylestown and the northeastern part of Wayne county, Ohio, is Nathan R. Zimmerman, who throughout his career has maintained the most creditable standards of personal and busi- ness integrity, and, without putting forth any effort to achieve popularity. he has done so in a local way by the manner in which he transacts the every- day affairs of a busy man. He is a native of Chippewa township, having been born near Marshallville, June 15, 1857, the son of Ezekiel and Rachel A. (McClelland) Zimmerman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Dalton, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of Nathan R. Zimmer- man were Nathan and Anna (Morton) Zimmerman, the former spending his life and dying in Pennsylvania, and the latter came with her son, Ezekiel, aged eight, and settled near Marshallville. There Ezekiel grew up and followed farming. He was first married to Anna Holliwell and the follow- ing children were born to them: Levi, living near Perrysville, Ohio: Eliza- beth, Eunice and Ann, all three deceased. Ezekiel Zimmerman was twice married, his second wife being Rachel A. McClelland, and the following children were born to this union: Sarah ; Ezekiel, living near Marshallville, this county; Nathan R., subject of this review; John: Delila and Kasiah both deceased; other children died in infancy. The maternal grandparents of Nathan R. Zimmerman were Samuel and Mary (Likins) McClelland. They came to this county from Pennsylvania and were pioneers near Dalton. Sugar Creek township. The parents of Sammuel McClelland were Sammel Emanuel and Ellen (Crooks) McClelland.
Nathan R. Zimmerman was educated in the public schools of Chippewa township and at the Mansfield Normal College, receiving an excellent educa- tion. He then followed farming for a time and later attended the La Porte Horological School at LaPorte, Indiana, and was graduated from the same
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in May, 1903. He then came to Doylestown, Wayne county, Ohio, and has since that time devoted his attention to the jewelry business, having built up an extensive patronage and becoming known as one of the most skillful workmen in this part of the county, being a good judge of all materials and having been well trained. He is also a conscientious workman, and work and goods that he recommends to his customers can be relied upon explicitly, according to the statement of many of his patrons. He has been very successful since locating here, and among his interests he is a director of the Doylestown Banking Company, a director in the Ohio Comb and Novelty Company, of Doylestown, and much of the large success of these enterprises is due to his judicious counsel.
Mr. Zimmerman was married on December 26, 1889, to Marinda Wag- ner, daughter of David and Nancy M. (Little) Wagner, the former born near Canal Fulton, Ohio, and the latter born near Marshallville, Wayne county, this state. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Zimmerman were Frederick and Mary (Saylic) Wagner, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They came to Ohio in an early day and entered land near Canal Fulton. They cleared a tract of land and made their home here, de- veloping a good farm. The parents of Frederick Wagner were John and Mary Jane (Gilcrist) Wagner, both of whom spent their lives and died in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Zimmerman were Thomas and Jane (McClelland) Little, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Wayne county, Ohio, and entered land near Orrville in an early day. Here they cleared timbered land and soon had a good home. The parents of Thomas Little were Thomas and Jane Little. Great-great-grandfather Little was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, during which he was cap- tured by the Indians and burned. William McClelland, uncle of Nathan R. Zimmerman, was a soldier in the Civil war.
Mr. Zimmerman is a man of exemplary character and excellent business ability, and he is interested in whatever tends to promote the interests of his community. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.
JOHN W. ZIMMERMAN.
The well-known and progressive business man whose life history is briefly outlined in the following paragraphs is a worthy descendant of hardy pioneer stock that figured prominently in the affairs of Wayne county for
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many years, and an analyzation of the character of John W. Zimmerman would indicate that many of the praiseworthy traits of the older members of this family have descended to him. He was born at Marshallville, Chip- pewa township, this county, March 25, 1864, the son of Ezekiel and Rachel (McClelland) Zimmerman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter born near Dalton, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of John W. Zim- merman were of German descent, and his maternal grandfather, Nathan Mc- Clelland, was of Scotch descent. Ezekiel Zimmerman came from Pennsyl- vania with his mother, his father having died in that state when the son was eight years old. The mother and son settled near Marshallville, and there Ezekiel grew to manhood, attended the common schools and devoted his life to farming, becoming one of the prosperous agriculturists of that vicinity. finally by thrift and good management accumulating three hundred acres of land. He made the name Zimmerman popular in the vicinity of Marshallville, just as his mother's people had become popular in the vicinity of Dalton, where they located in a very early day. Ezekiel Zimmerman was the father of six children, John W., of this review, being the youngest in order of birth.
John W. Zimmerman was educated in the district schools of Chippewa township, working on the home place during the summer months. His father dying when he was young, the management of the place fell to him and he proved to be equal to the task in every respect. In connection with farming he also followed lumbering for a period of twelve years, making a success of this venture also, and laying by quite a competency. At the end of the period indicated, Mr. Zimmerman bought out the Huffman hardware store at Doylestown, where he has since carried on a general hardware busi- ness, building up an extensive trade with the surrounding country and be- coming known as one of the leading dealers in this line in Wayne county. He also has other extensive interests, among which is that of the Ohio Comb and Novelty Company, of which he is president, and much of its success is due to his counsel and judicious management. This firm is located at Doyles- town. He is vice-president and acting president of the Doylestown Bank- ing Company, and he also owned one-half interest in a planing mill at Apple Creek, Ohio, the firm operating the same being known as Baughman & Zimmerman, but he has recently sold his interests there. He carries to suc- cessful issue whatever he turns his attention to, for he has pronounced executive ability and innate business principles that never fail to properly direct and control large interests when properly directed.
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In 1888 Mr. Zimmerman was married to Emma Anderson, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Walters) Anderson, a highly honored and influen- tial family of this county, having been pioneers here. To Mr. and Mrs. Zim- merman the following children have been born: Ray Earl, who was edu- cated at Doylestown and at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, taking the honors of his class and being graduated in 1909; he is now very ably acting as general superintendent of the Ohio Comb and Novelty Company. The other children are Iva May, Harry Wayne, Merl, Opal, all students of the local schools except the two youngest.
Mr. Zimmerman is a Republican in politics, and he attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman is peacable and happy, the children they have reared being a constant and un- failing source of satisfaction to them.
REV. THOMAS JEFFERSON DAGUE, A. M., D. D.
The subject of this sketch, like most genuine Americans, is of mixed origin, being on the paternal side of Dutch and English and on the maternal, Scotch and Irish ancestry. From the best information attainable, early in the eighteenth century one Frederick Deg left Holland with his wife and one child for America. The child, it is said, died during the voyage and was buried at sea, and in the meantime another was born, to whom was given the name Matthias, and to him all the Dague families in this country trace their origin. They came from the sturdy peasant stock, and religiously belonged to that branch of the Protestant faith known as German Baptist Brethren, or "Tunkers." As the family became Americanized, the orthography of the name was gradually changed to conform to the Dutch pronunciation, first to Dage, for one or two generations, and later, within the memory of those now living, to its present form.
Michael, Gabriel and Michael D., the great-grandfather, grandfather and father of the subject of this sketch, were all natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where the family first settled in this country. Whether the first Michael ever came to Ohio or not is uncertain, but the tomb of his wife is to be seen in the old burying-ground in Milton township, this county. Gabriel Dage, with his wife and two or three of the older of his ten children, removed to Ohio in the early part of the nineteenth century and settled in Milton township, Wayne county. His wife, to whom he was married about
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yours tricky Ihad Lague
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1815, was Rachael Howe, said to have been a near relative to Sir William Howe, the old Tory general of the Revolution. At any rate, she is recalled by persons still living as a lady of greatly refined manners, with distinct aristo- cratic proclivities, and a strong, old-fashioned, blue-stocking Presbyterian. Her husband was a man of much ability and great force of character and was prominent in the affairs of the pioneer community. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, a director in one of the first banks established in this region, that at Massillon, and a pioneer teacher in the Wayne county public schools. A few old men still living delight to tell that at his feet they were taught the A B C's of learning. The old brick house erected by him on his farm in Milton township seventy-seven years ago is still occupied as a dwelling and bears his name and the date of its erection on a stone slab in the gable. He died near Wadsworth, Ohio, at the advanced age of more than eighty years. His wife followed him a few years later, having attained about the same age. In poli- tics he was at first a Whig, afterwards a strong Jeffersonian Democrat.
His second son, Michael D. Dague, father of the subject of this sketch, came as a lad with his parents to Ohio and grew up with the pioneers on the Milton farm. The greater portion of his life was that of a quiet farmer. Though a man of intelligence, excellent judgment and great energy of char- acter, he never sought or accepted any office of public trust or emolument. By industry and frugality, he amassed considerable property, being the owner at his death of about two hundred and fifty acres of land, besides considerable town property. His later years were given to mercantile pursuits until ad- vancing age demanded his retirement. For about forty years he held the office of a ruling elder in the Doylestown Presbyterian church. He died at his home in Doylestown, Ohio, in June, 1903, at the age of eighty-five years. Of the ten children of the generation to which he belonged, one, his oldest brother, Archibald Dague, still lives at Western Star, Ohio, hale and hearty, at the age of ninety-four years.
The maternal ancestors of Doctor Dague, Thomas McElhenie and Mar- garet (Eaken) McElhenie, his wife, were of Scotch and Irish descent, Thomas furnishing the Scotch and Margaret the Irish element. They came to Wayne county, Ohio, from Center county, Pennsylvania, about the same time with the Dague family, and settled in the adjoining township of Chippewa. Mr. Mc- Elhenie was a man of sterling character and of more than ordinary influence in the community. For some years he followed farming, and also kept a tavern at the cross-roads near where the village of Easton now stands. Later he opened a store in Easton which he conducted successfully for many years.
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until forced into retirement by advancing age. He was for many years a justice of the peace, both in Pennsylvania, and also after his removal to Ohio, dispensing law and justice with rigorous impartiality. He was a great lover of books, and his library of two dozen or more choice volumes was the wonder and admiration of the pioneers, whose stock of reading matter in many cases was confined to a Bible, a hymn book and an almanac.
The second daughter, Elisabeth King, became through her marriage to Michael D. Dague, May 12, 1840, the mother of the subject of this sketch, he being their second son. She was a native of Pennsylvania and about two years the junior of her husband. She was a woman of excellent sense and spirit of refined manners and managed well the affairs of her household. The fruit of this union was five sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to ma- turity and became settled in life. The parents lived to celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary May 12, 1890, at which an unbroken family circle was present, and a large number of grandchildren and invited guests also partic- ipated. Mrs. Dague died in June, 1898, at the age of seventy-nine. Her husband followed her five years later, in June, 1893, aged about eighty-five years.
Rev. Dr. Dague was born on what is now known as the Samuel Collier farm near Doylestown, Ohio, December 1, 1843. His primary education was begun in "the little red school house" near Wadsworth, Ohio, whither his par- ents removed about two years after his birth. Later his father purchased a farm in Summit county, near Western Star, where he had the advantages of the old Western Star Academy for a few terms during the winter months. Here he laid the foundation for his future career in the acquisition of that love of books and the passion for a literary life that has ever since been the leading feature of his character. Though it was necessary that a large part of the year should be spent in the severe drudgery of farm work, being a diligent and faithful student, he made the most of his meagre opportunities. He was a constant reader of the best books at his command, and in the winter of 1861-2 began teaching in the public schools.
Then came the Civil war. Inspired by the spirit of patriotism that was then prevalent, he enlisted as a private soldier in Company G, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went with the regi- ment to its rendezvous at Camp Mansfield. Here he was stricken with typhoid fever, complicated with pneumonia, and was sent home on sick furlough, where for twelve long weeks he lay hovering between life and death. The con- valescence was slow. but after eight months of weary waiting he finally re- joined the regiment, then lying at Big Black River Bridge, on July 3. 1863,
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the day preceding the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was immediately assigned to duty and served until finally mustered out at the expiration of his term of service, October 16, 1865. During this time of service he participated in several engagements, the most important being the siege of Jackson, Mis- sissippi, July 10-17, 1863, where the regiment was almost constantly under fire; the "City Belle" disaster, near Snaggy Point on the Red river, where he was one of the few to escape by scaling the river bank under the murderous fire of the enemy ; and the siege and capture or Fort Blakely, the last great battle of the war. In this engagement he was one of the first, if not the first of the regiment, to scale the parapet, where he also captured a Confederate flag and carried it with him inside the fort, but which was almost immeditely wrested from him by an officer wearing the insignia of a captain, who after- ward claimed and reported the capture as made by himself.
Greatly disliking the lazy, lounging monotony of camp life, he was often at such times, at his own request, detailed for special duty. In this way he served upon several occasions as assistant in the commissary department, as helper in the United States Christian Commission, as clerk at headquarters, etc. After the surrender, he was detailed as a clerk, first at brigade head- quarters, and was afterward transferred to post headquarters at Houston, Texas, where he became chief clerk and private secretary to the commanding officer, so that practically all the business of the office passed through his hands, though at that time less than twenty-two years of age. This position he retained until finally mustered out of the service. After a year spent in the South, in teaching and some attempts at business, failing health obliged him to return to Ohio. Here he resumed his occupation of teaching, first, in the pub- lic schools, and later as principal of the Doylestown Academy, an institution which, like so many of its kind, has since passed into oblivion. This was a stepping-stone to the realization of his continued ambition for an education and a literary life, for during all these years this longing ever grew stronger and deeper, and during all the marches, encampments, discomforts, dangers and excitements of a soldier's life there was always found a place in his knap- sack for one or more of his favorite books, to be perused often by the light of the camp fire, while most of his comrades were "swapping yarns" or en- gaged at cards. In the autumn of 1868, having closed his relations with the Doylestown Academy, he entered Miami University, where, after five years of faithful and diligent work, he was graduated as a Bachelor and Master of Arts. having in addition to the regular classical course pursued post-graduate studies in ancient and modern languages, philosophy, English literature, higher mathematics and civil engineering, making thus a most extraordinary record
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for scholarship. During this time he was also engaged in much benevolent and missionary work, carried on by the college Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, of which he was a most zealous and active member. As a matter of partial support, he found employment for hours not devoted to study and reci- tations in the office of the Oxford Citisen, thus incidentally learning the prac- tical work of the printer's trade. He was also one of the editors of the Miami Student.
After an engagement of more than four years, and from a mutual desire that she should be present to witness his triumph at graduation, during the winter vacation preceding that event. December 26, 1872, he was married to a lovely and highly accomplished young lady, Josephine M. Reid, daughter of the late Andrew Reid, of noble Scotch ancestry and a wealthy planter of Rock- bridge county, Virginia. His wife also, Sarah (Kelsoe) Reid, was of equally prominent Scotch origin, being a lineal descendant of the stern but pious old non-conformist, Rev. James Rutherford, known in history as the pastor of the parish of Anworth, so that in both families is represented the best blood of Scotland. This marriage has been exceedingly fortunate and happy. Like Jane Carlyle, Mrs. Dague has been in every sense a true, loyal and faithful help- meet for her husband as a teacher, a minister of the gospel and a man of let- ters. She is also an artist of no mean ability, her work in that line being much admired and praised.
Immediately upon graduation, Doctor Dague was elected principal of the old Salem Academy, at South Salem, Ohio, where he remained three and one- half years, during which time the institution was greatly prospered. Having resigned this charge, he at once projected a private institution known as Dague's Collegiate Institute, which was opened in Chillicothe, Ohio, in Janu- ary, 1877, with about thirty students. For three years the institution grew and prospered until the accommodations were no longer adequate, when the institute was removed to Wadsworth, Ohio, the grounds and buildings of the Wadsworth College having been purchased for its use. Here it was continued for four more years, when grounds, buildings and good will were sold to a stock company. and its principal turned his attention to the work of the gospel ministry, his original purpose in seeking an education.
With this end in view, he had been licensed as a probationer by the Cleve- land presbytery in the spring of 1881, and in September of the same year was, by the same presbytery, duly ordained to the sacred office. His first regular work in this line was as minister at Lafayette church at Lake Chippewa for two years, while still discharging his duties as principal. In 1883 he accepted an unanimous call from the united congregations of Caldwell and Sharon.
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Ohio, where he held a very prosperous pastorate for five and one-half years. Other charges following were Delphos and Middlepoint, two years, during which time he gathered and organized churches at Scott, Rushmere and Vene- docia ; Paulding, Ohio, two years; Milton Center, Ohio, five years, including outlying work at Deshler, Cecil, Haskins, Rudolph, and other points, strength- ening weak churches or gathering and organizing new ones. In 1896, over- work and failing health obliged him to take a rest. A trip to the South and to the Atlantic coast was taken, during which time he preached constantly in the Southern churches of Williamsburg and North River, and two years of irregu- lar work in vacant churches followed, when he received a unanimous call to his old home church at Doylestown, Ohio, where he served as pastor for the following seven years. In the year 1897, he was a commissioner to the general assembly at Winona, Indiana. Since resigning his charge at Doylestown he is residing in his own beautiful home known as "The Maples," a small fruit farm within the corporate limits of that village. The home is an ideal one of delightfully shaded grounds, adorned with pots of beautiful shrubbery and flowers, where the wild song-birds delight to gather and fill the air with their delightful music. Here, with his wife and an adopted daughter, who constitute his household, he lives in the congenial companionship of his books, pursuing his favorite studies and ministering to the spiritual needs of his old parish- ioners and others as opportunity offers. Doctor Dague's attainments in schol- arship are far beyond those of most men in his profession. His diligence in study, his long career as a teacher, and his thirty years' work in the ministry have developed his powers beyond the average. He is able to read and interpret the Scriptures in seven different languages and dialects, is more or less familiar with the Latin, Greek, German, French and English classics; has a wide ac- quaintance with the history and themes of philosophic thought : is familiar with the works of all the great thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to the latest of the modern philosophers of note ; and keeps himself well informed as to the current developments in science and literature. For the past fifty years lie has been a frequent contributor to the general press, though he has published no books, and from a sense of modesty has published most of his writings over a nom de plume. He has written articles on current topics of public interest, besides poetry, hymns, popular songs, set to music, and articles on general literature and for the religious press. Many of these have been widely copied and favorably commented on. The history of civilization, embracing philoso- phy. comparative religion and general literature, are his favorite studies. At present he is engaged in preparing a commentary on the life of Christ on a new
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